Lighting fixture



Dec. 13, 1960 .1. B. SEIDMAN LIGHTING FIXTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May1, 1958 1950, J. B. SEIDMAN 2,964,616

LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed May 1, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 13, 1960 J, B.SElDMAN 2,964,616

LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed May 1, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 of the reflectorwith a light transmitting cover secured thereto;

of the reflector of Figure 11 and showing also a cover for the raceway;

Figure 22 is a fragmentary sectional perspective vie of a modified formof reflector and attached raceway embodying my invention; and Figure 23is a fragmentary sectional perspective vie of another modified form ofreflector and integral raceway embodying my invention.

Reference is first made to the fragmentary perspective vview of Figure 1wherein my novel lighting fixture is shown attached to the front of anoutdoor sign 25 of any size. As mentioned above, the fixture is adaptedfor lighting other objects as well, and is not restricted for use onsigns.

The lighting fixture includes a plurality of junction, or outlet, boxes26. the number required depending upon the length of the fixture.Supporting arm members 27 are threadedly secured to the boxes 26, andextend rearwardly thereof. The ends of the arms 27 are threadedlysecured to flanged supporting members 28 which. in turn, are suitablysecured to the face of the sign. The arm members 27 may, obviously, bemade of any desired length suitable to the sign dimensions. At least oneof the arm members 27 is in the form r f a tubular conduit,

or pipe, which communicates with a junction box 29 suitably attached tothe rear of the sign. Other conduits 31 and 32 connect the junction box29 to a suitable ballast 33 and thence to a suitable source ofpotential, not shown in the drawings.

End members 34 are secured to the junction boxes 26 and supportelongated reflectors 36 which partially encircle fluorescent lightinglamps within the fixture. As will become apparent, later, in thedetailed description of the fixture, the end members 34 with theattached reflectors 36 are rotatable on a horizontal axis extendingbetween the junction boxes 26 whereby light from the lamps may bedirected in any desired radial direction therefrom. Suitable lighttransmitting covers 37 are attached to the reflectors and prevent rainand water, and the like, from contacting the reflector surface,fluorescent lamp, and other components therein.

Reference is now made to Figures 2 and 3 wherein two views of thejunction box 26 are shown. The junction box 26 comprises a housing 39 ofa generally hollow cubical configuration which includes an accessopening 41 therein. As seen in Figu es 17 and 18, a closure, or cover,member 42 is removably secured to the housing over the access opening byscrews 43 which threadedly engage tapped holes in the housing. A gasket44 may be disposed between the housing and cover to effect aweather-proof seal therebetween when the screws are tightened. Referringagain to Figures 2 and 3, an integrally formed, internally threaded,collar 46 extends from another side of the junction box 39. Thesupporting arms 27, as seen in Figure l, engage the threaded collar 46.As mentioned above, one or more of the arms 27 ,are of the tubularconduit type and provide a passageway for lead wires from the housing 39to the outlet box 29 of Figure 1.

As best seen in Figure 2, a pair of coaxial, tubular flange members 47extend from opposite sides of the housing 39. Resilient O-ring members48 (as seen also ,in Figure 4) are positioned in grooves formed on theflange members 47, and are adapted to provide a weatherproof sealbetween the collar and attached end member 34 shown in Figure 1. Theflange members 47 are provided with knock-out type wall members 49 ofweather-proof construction, as seen in Figure 3, since only one collarmember is utilized in the junction boxes 26 at the ends of the fixtures.The wall members 49 are easily removed when necessary.

Reference is now made to Figures 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings whereinthere are shown various views of an end member 34. The end member 34 isprovided with an integrally formed collar 51 which is adapted toslidably, and rotatably, fit over the flange 47 on the junction box 26.Tapped holes 52 are provided in the collar 51, which holes are adaptedto receive set screws 53, as seen in Figures 17 and 18, which serve tosecure the members together in a non-rotatable manner when tightened.

Curved flange members 54 are formed on the end members 34, the curvedflanges being provided with holes 56 which are utilized in securing theend members to the reflector 36. An outwardly projecting pocket portion57 is formed on the end member and provides a raceway receivingstructurewithin which a wiring raceway, or conduit, on the reflectorterminates, as will become apparent in the assembled views of thefixture described below. A straight flange 58 with a pair of tappedholes 59 therein provides a mounting structure for attachment of a lampsocket bracket to the end member. Both the reflector and lamp socketbracket are described in detail below.

Reference is now made to Figures 8, 9 and 10 wherein various views of alamp socket bracket 61 are shown,

which bracket is adapted to be attached to the end memplane, generallysemi-circular, portion 62 having a rightangularly disposed mountingflange 63 which flange is provided with holes 64. The flange 63 isadapted to abut the straight flange 58 on the end member 34 in theassembled light fixture.

A conventional lamp socket 66, of the type shown in Figure 11, isadapted to be mounted on the lamp socket bracket 61. As seen in Figure12, the lamp socket is attached by screws 67 to the bracket 61. Theleads 68 from the lamp socket extend to the left of the bracket 61, asviewed in Figure 12, while the lamp socket terminals which are adaptedto contact the fluorescent lamp terminals extend to the right sidethereof.

Reference is now made to Figure 13 of the drawings wherein the assembledlamp socket and bracket are ing holes 71 are located adjacent the endsof the reflector .for use in attaching the reflector to the end members..The novel reflector of my invention includes, also, a wiring conduit,or raceway, 72 formed therewith. In the form of reflector shown inFigures 14 and 15, access to the raceway is had at both the ends thereofand longitudinally thereof on the concave surface of the reflectorthrough an opening 73. Opposite edges of the opening -73 are providedwith grooves, or channels 74 within which an elongated cover, or plate75, shown in Figure 21, slidably engages to close the wiring conduit 72ofl from the interior of the reflector.

As best seen in Figures 14 and 16, elongated channel portions 76 areformed at the longitudinal edges of the reflector and provide means forsupporting the light transmitting member 37. A weather-proof sealingmember 78 is positioned in the groove between the light transmittingmember 37 and reflector.

- Fragmentary assembled views, and a sectional view, of

the light fixture; are hew in Figures. 17,18. 19.: and 20. Referringfirst to, Figures 17, and 18, the supporting arm 27 is shown attached tothe collar 46' of the junction box 26. (As shown in Figure 1, andmentioned above, the other end of the supporting arm is suitably securedto. the sign 25.) One flange member 47 on: the housing 39- is shownprojecting within the collar 51 formed on the end member 34. Thereflector 36, is,s e .cure,d to the end member by threaded fasteningdevices 80. With the junction box 26 supported-on the arm 27, it will beunderstood that the end member 34, with the attached reflector 36, isrotatable to any desired position. The set screws 53 are used to lockthe end member to the flange 47 at the selected predetermined setting.

The lamp socket bracket 61, with the attached lamp socket 66, issupported on the end member 34 by the screws 69. The lamp socket, whichis of any suitable design, supports a fluorescent lamp 81 of theelongated tubular type. As best seen in Figure 20, the lamp socketbracket 61 is provided with a protuberance 62' which extends into theopening 73 to the reflector raceway 72.

As seen in Figures 17 through 20, wires 82 for the fixtures arepositioned in the raceway 72. Thus, it will be understood that certainof the lead wires 68 from the lamp sockets 66 may be connected to thewires 82 positioned in the raceway 72. The fixture may, therefore, bepartially assembled, and wired, on the ground before installation on thesign. In practice, to install the light fixture of my invention, theoutlet, or junction, boxes 26 are first attached to the supporting arms27, and the arms 27 attached to the sign 25 by the flanged supportingmembers 28. On the ground, the connecting wires 82 are first positionedin the raceway 72 on the reflector, with the wires protruding from theends thereof. The raceway cover 75 is then slid into position in thegrooves 74 to cover the raceway. Next, the end members 34 are secured tothe reflector 36 by the threaded fastening mem bers 80, and the wires 82are extended through the collar 51 on the end members. The lamp sockets66 are attached to the lamp socket brackets 61 by the screws 67, and theassembled lamp socket and bracket secured to the end members 34, withthe lamp socket lead wires 68 extended through the flange 51 in the endmember, as seen in Figure 13. The protruding lamp scket wires 68, at oneend of the fixture, are spliced to one end of the lead wires 82 whichextend through the raceway. In this manner, circuit connections for allof the lamp sockets are brought to one end of the fixture. The lamp 81and light transmitting cover 37 may then be installed. The partiallyassembled and wired fixture is then ready for final installation on thesign.

The collars 51 on the end members 34 are slid over the flange members 47on the housing 39 of the junction boxes 26 after first passing theextending wires at one end of the fixture through the flanged opening,into the splicing cavity of the junction box 26. The reflector 36, withthe attached end members are rotated to a desired position and securedto the flanges 47 by the set screws 53. With my fixture, any setting ofthe reflector 36 within a full 360 degree range is possible. From thejunction box 26 at the end of one extension arm 27, wire is fed throughthe junction box 29 attached to the sign to the ballast 33 and, thence,to a suitable power supply (see Figure 1). These leads from the arm 27into the junction box 26 are then spliced to the leads extending fromthe lamps and the installation is complete.

With my novel fixture, it will be apparent that condulet boxes are notrequired between the splice, or junction box 26 and the junction box 29since the boxes are provided with their own removable covers forinstallation and servicing.

In addition to being simple to install, as described above, my novellight fixture is also easily serviced. For example, a defective lampsocket is easily replaced without dismantling the entire fixture. Toreplace a defecfive ma so et, he ig r nsmi hi st 1 i s id, w y r m thendi he mp..- cgn fin ng, the kettd b zrep c d, and he amp QQket.bracketrem ed by re-Q m val. of. th e s. 6 1 e amp sock t 66. i the reasily accessible for removal from the, lamp socket bracket. The lampsocket leads also are easily accessible through the access opening 41 inthe box 26 once the cover 42 has been removed therefrom. Thus, such arepair can be easilyaccomplished by one man from. a ladder in a matterof minutes. To change lamp sockets in prior art light fixtures of thetype under consideration ordinarily requires the eflorts of two men,since such fixtures must be substantially completely dismantled in orderto remove the defective socket.

Reference is now made to Figures 21, 22 and 23 of the drawings whereinvarious forms of reflectors with raceways, or conduits, are shown. Thereflector 36, with the integral raceway 72 of Figure 21, is of the typeshown in Figure 14 and described above. In Figure 22, a raceway, orconduit 72' is shown bolted to the reflector, while in Figure 23, anintegral, enclosed raceway 72" is shown formed on the reflector. Themodified forms of reflectors with raceways thereon shown in Fig ures 22and 23, obviously, embody my invention.

Having now described my invention in detail, in accordance with thepatent statutes, various other changes and modifications will suggestthemselves to those skilled in this art. It is intended that suchchanges and modifications shall fall within the spirit and scope of theinvention as recited in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A lighting fixture comprising an elongated reflector, a pair of endmembers each with an aperture therein secured to each end of the saidreflector, a pair of junction boxes each formed with an aperturetherein, means detachably securing the said junction boxes to the saidend members with the apertures therein in register, a pair of lampsocket brackets, one engaging the inner surface of each of said endmembers, means detachably securing the lamp socket brackets to the saidend members, the said lamp socket brackets being removable from the saidend members when the reflector, end members, and junction boxes aresecured together, a pair of lamp sockets, and means detachably securingthe lamp sockets to the said lamp socket brackets.

2. A fluorescent lighting fixture comprising an elongated reflectorhaving a generally longitudinally extending raceway thereon, a pair ofend members with apertures therein and detachably secured to each end ofthe reflector with the said raceway in direct communication with the endmembers, a pair of junction boxes each formed with an aperture therein,means detachably securing the said junction boxes to the said endmembers with the apertures therein in register, a pair of lamp socketbrackets detachably secured directly to the said end members, the saidlamp socket brackets being removable from the said end members when thereflector, end members and junction boxes are secured together, and lampsockets detachably secured to the said lamp socket brackets.

3. The invention as recited in claim 2 wherein the said raceway isintegrally formed with the said reflector.

4. A lighting fixture comprising an elongated reflector having agenerally longitudinally extending raceway mounted directly thereon as acontinuation of said reflector, a pair of end members with aperturestherein, each of said end members being provided with a chamber indirect communication with the raceway, means detachably securing one endmember to each end of the said reflector, a pair of junction boxes eachformed with an aperture therein, means detachably securing each of thesaid junction boxes to the associated end member with the apertures ineach of said end members and in 7 each associated junction box inregister, and a lamp socket mounted on each of said end members andextending into the associated chamber so that wiring through saidraceway and extending into its associated chamber is adapted to beconnected to its associated lamp socket.

5, The invention as recited in claim 4, wherein the said raceway isintegrally formed with the said reflector.

- References Cited in the file ofthis patent I UNITED STATES PATENTSNaysmith Nov. 8, 194 Caferro June 30, 1953 Zurawski July 3, 1956 McGintyet a1 Oct. 16, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain 1940

